NSW.net Technology in Libraries Seminar: 21 September 2012

NSW.net invites NSW Public Library staff to attend our Technology in Libraries seminar to be held in the Metcalfe Auditorium at the State Library of New South Wales on Friday, 21 September: 9:30 am - 4:00 pm.

The day promises to be an exciting exploration of how technology is being utilised by libraries to transform services.

(View presentation)Keynote presentation by Marshall Breeding, a leading international authority on next generation catalogues and discovery layers. Marshall is a prolific author on library automation and has presented at numerous conference around the world on this subject. Presentation Abstract: Libraries today face incredible challenges brought on by shifts in their collections to include an ever increasing array of electronic content, never-ending budget pressures, and rising expectations by their customers for instant access to information. In response to these challenges, libraries demand more effective and efficient automation solutions with requirements for additional features and functionality aligned with these new realities that may not have been present in previous automation products. In the past, libraries could gain adequate automation by choosing the best library management system that fit their technical requirements and budget. Now, for better or worse, many choices now exist that represent quite different paths, including decisions regarding open source versus proprietary products, evolutionary library management systems versus new-generation library services platforms, online catalogs versus discovery services, locally implemented versus cloud-based deployment. Marshall Breeding will present an overview of the current library automation landscape, highlighting the advantages and concerns presented by this new state of alternatives.

(View presentation) Keynote presentation by Marcus Foth, Associate Professor of Urban Informatics at Queensland University of Technology. Marcus recently authored the report, ​Urban Informatics: Research & Insights for Libraries, Cultural Industries and Innovation Systems. Presentation Abstract: Libraries have often been first adopters of many new technological innovations, such as, punch cards, computers, barcodes, and e-book readers. It is thus not surprising that many libraries have embraced the advent of the internet as an opportunity to move away from just being repositories of books, towards becoming ideas stores and local network hubs for entrepreneurial thinking and new creative practices. This presentation will look at the case of “The Edge” – an initiative of the State Library of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, to establish a digital culture centre and learning environment deliberately designed for the co-creation and co-construction of knowledge. This initiative illustrates the potential role of libraries as testing grounds for new technologies and technological practices, which is particularly relevant in the context of the NBN rollout across Australia. It also provides an example of new engagement strategies for innovative co-working spaces that are a vital element in a trend that sees professionals, creatives and designers leave their traditional places of work and embrace the city as their office.

(View presentation)Bernard De Broglio from Mosman Library. Bernard will provide and overview of the, Doing our bit, Mosman 1914–1918 project. This innovative online resource will display information about the wartime experiences of local service people. The project includes a build-a-thon which will involve programmers, local historians and volunteers working together to design and build a site, gather data and chart a way forward.

(View presentation)Jennifer Berryman from the SLNSW presenting on the Innovation Project. The Innovation Project is piloting new State Library service offerings in an online world during 2012. The aim is to extend the use of social media tools with a view to developing a model to support and enable service delivery innovation.

(View presentation) Geoff Hinchcliffe Director, Digital Library Services & CIO at the SLNSW. Geoff will outline key digital library strategic projects which will define the SLNSW as a world renowned library and centre of digital excellence.

(View presentation)Dr Judith Jensen, from CityLibraries Townsville, will discuss the role of Australian Libraries in the era of the National Broadband Network rollout and the opportunities to reposition the industry and profession in a country with 100% of the population connected to the NBN. Townsville is the site of NBNCo’s largest rollout of fibre to the premises in Australia, and one branch of CityLibraries Townsville (Aitkenvale) is the first public library in Australia to be connected to the NBN.